BlueStar Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 From Owlstalk, Sheff Wed forum Hi Its been a long time since I posted here on Owlstalk - although I understand quite a few people have asked about me - which is nice, thanks. My last post on Owlstalk was back in February 2006 - when many of you will remember was shortly after I had been asked to leave the clubs executive area when I was dining with a friend of mine who owned an executive box. I say 'owned' rather than 'owns' because as a result of that day he hasn't renewed his box, and actually hasn't returned to Hillsborough either since then. Later that day I was contacted by the Admin of Owlstalk and advised that the club were looking to pursue legal action against me for alleged defamation. This was the first time I had been aware of any offence being taken as a result of my postings on this message board - and although this news was broken to me indirectly - I asked Admin to delete my account and all of my postings. This was the easiest way of ensuring that any offensive posts disappeared for good. Some weeks later I was written to by Irwin Mitchell Solicitors - who advised me that the club were looking to pursue legal action against me for defamation, however this could be avoided if I paid the clubs legal bill and apologised. I chose not to take advise from a solicitor at that stage - and offered to meet their demands. I had no wish to enter into a lengthly, and above all, costly legal battle. If I'm honest - neither did I want to see my football club enter into a legal battle either that would not only prove costly, but in my opinion potentially divisive too. At the time Irwin Mitchell claimed that their legal bill was £2500 - and I offered to pay it on receipt of a summary of costs, as I felt that was extremely expensive for sending me a letter - obviously they had to account for consultation with their client too - but I still felt within my rights to request this. I was written to again by Irwin Mitchell who told me I should expect to be paying damages as well as costs of around £40,000.00. Some weeks passed - and shortly after I was called to ameeting with my employer. Irwin Mitchell had written to them on behalf of the club reserving the right to impound my work laptop, and copying my employer in on all of the allegations they were making about me. Obviously this was embarassing, especially as at that time some of the quotes attributed to me were not actually made by me. Additionally the letter from Irwin Mitchell had asked if my employer found it appropriate that I was making posts to Owlstalk in working hours - although my time was, and is, always flexible and to be fair - Irwin Mitchells would not have known that. I discussed the issue with several close (wednesdayite) friends, and I was advised by Daryl Keys of Wednesdayite that I should speak to another Wednesdayite who had heard of the problems I was experiencing and had offered to support me with the use of his solicitor. This proved to be a tremendous help. The solictor advised me throughout - and removed much of the worry. We were contacted a number of times requesting costs be paid (these had escalated enormously) and for the apology to be made - and as a result of the escalation in costs we always maintained that we had offered to pay the costs when they were £2500 and apologise - and that this offer stood. After 14th February 2007 - I was advised by my solicitor that the deadline of 12 months for issuing proceedings to me had passed without incident and that the problem was no longer. The solicitor was paid by my Wednesdayite benefactor and I began to get on with life. Anyone who has been through what I have will know how painful and worrying a process it is - it made my divorce seem like a birthday party. Around 2 weeks ago I was contacted again by my solicitor who advised me that the club had issued proceedings against me on 13th February (on the last possible day they could). They had also waited the maximum possible time (4 months) to serve those proceedings. Their reason for doing this is known only to them. Having met with my solicitor and considered their Particulars of Claim - my solictor has concluded that the claim is so unlikely to succeed that they have offered to represent me on a CFA basis (no win-no fee). And that is the current state of play. Right now the solicitors are at the sending letters to each other to clarify points stage - but there is a very real possibility that this case could well end up in court now - and thats what I wanted to avoid at the outset. Regardless of the fact that my benefactor is covering all of the legal costs - it is still a very worrying time - and my advice to anyone on this site or others - is watch your words - they are being scrutinised and I would hate for anyone to have the 16 months I've just experienced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shearer9 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 What kinds of posts was he making? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueStar Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 What kinds of posts was he making? Obviously they're deleted, but sounds like he was asked to leave the executive area and then posted his side of events on a forum. The club saw it, weren't too happy about how they were portrayed and threatened legal action, calling on him to pay costs etc. Quite worrying, considering how often people use forums to vent about twattish stewards, dodgy safety at grounds, obnoxious turnstile staff etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gemmill Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Wow, that's horrendous. Don't know what he said mind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 The stuff posted on other clubs messageboards is 10 times worse than virtually anything that goes on here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontownman Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 They could have a field day on here! Its not worth the bother though, im guessing this is more to do with what happened in the box and resulting posts? Must have been pretty damning for them to take serious action. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skirge Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Its totally petty that like, I would like to know what he was posting but they have taken it so far they just appear pathetic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hagler Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 that Irwin Mitchell solicitor is a cunt and he can sue me for saying that...cause im skint......got to hate the money grabbing twats Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontownman Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Totally depends on what kind of things he had written, for instance if he had launched into names and full details and made false accusations against these people they are well within their rights to protect them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueStar Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Must have been pretty damning for them to take serious action. Dunno like, companies get really jittery and take legal action for fucking stupid reasons. KFC started legal action against some woman who owned a pub for calling something on her menu a "family feast". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skirge Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Wonder what went on in the exec box also, but its a bad bad time for football when clubs start taking their own fans to court. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest trotter58 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Its totally petty that like, I would like to know what he was posting but they have taken it so far they just appear pathetic. Especially when it's one of their OWN supporters saying it! A bit of a PR disaster for Wednesday if you ask me. Why didn't they just write to the site and put the record straight? Surely that would have been a much more credible option. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eyeball_tickler Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 personally i love the service provided by newcastle united on any given match day and ive never had any complaints about said service. shola ameobi is also a very talented footballer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alan Shearer 9 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 apparantly it was so bad... if you read it your eyes will explode Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David Kelly Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Glad to see football is still the people's game! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest trotter58 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 apparantly it was so bad... if you read it your eyes will explode Makes you wonder what the site moderators were doing then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 There was similar on a Coventry board a few years ago - one bloke called the chairman a 'rogue' and the club went after them under the dictionary definition of the word, claiming that it effectively accused him of being a thief. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest trotter58 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 personally i love the service provided by newcastle united on any given match day and ive never had any complaints about said service. shola ameobi is also a very talented footballer. I would also like to add that i fully expect Big Sam's Newcastle to play fluent, attractive, attacking football, the like of which has not been seen since the 1970's Brazilian team and not resort to shelling the opposition's penalty area with long balls for 90 minutes, which i may have previously suggested. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ebolarama Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 The idea of legal challenges against message board postings makes me laugh the whole day long. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M4 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 The idea of legal challenges against message board postings makes me laugh the whole day long. Oh dear... are you saying they are stupid idiots for taking such actions??! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Fucking mental. Hence this rule: http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=19155.0 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Fans of SW should unite and not renew their season tickets collectively to make a stance.. Seeing as we are now "customers" of football, surely people are within their rights to discuss the "level of service provided" openly on an Internet forum.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syrette Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 I saw Joe Striker in Greggs and I know from personal experience that he is gay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 I saw Joe Striker in Greggs and I know from personal experience that he is gay. I love the wording in that rule. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steven_MB Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Shows how low coroporate football has gone, I doubt people could say things on a forum that actually damage the club. companies that sue for petty reasons always look foolish, and generally brings more bad publicity, personally I don't see how a couple of grand benefit them Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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